Khattak Osama, Chaudhary Farooq Ahmad, Ahmad Shahzad, Fareed Muhammad Amber, Iqbal Shazia, Shakoor Asma, Baig Mohammed Nadeem, Almutairi Haifa Ali, Issrani Rakhi, Iqbal Azhar
Department of Restorative Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Jouf University, Sakaka, Saudi Arabia.
School of Dentistry, Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
PeerJ. 2025 May 8;13:e19286. doi: 10.7717/peerj.19286. eCollection 2025.
Individuals with disabilities often experience greater challenges in managing oral diseases, including dental caries and periodontal conditions, due to functional limitations. This study aims to: (1) assess the oral health status of disabled individuals in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, (2) evaluate their oral hygiene knowledge and behaviors, and (3) determine their caries risk using the Caries Management by Risk Assessment (CAMBRA) protocol.
A cross-sectional study was conducted on 189 participants aged 13 years and older, including both young people and adults with hearing, visual, or intellectual disabilities from Pakistan and Saudi Arabia between September 2023 and April 2024. The participants were recruited from the Institute of Special Education, Pakistan, and the Saudi Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, Saudi Arabia. Intraoral examinations and bitewing radiographs assessed oral health, including Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index, Gingival Index, visible plaque, and molar alignment. A self-administered questionnaire gathered sociodemographic data and evaluated oral hygiene knowledge and behaviors. Caries risk was analyzed using the CAMBRA tool. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and binary logistic regression.
The mean DMFT score was 6.30 (SD = 1.83), with a statistically significant difference between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia ( = 0.007). Gingival health was fair to poor in 47% of participants, while 43.4% exhibited bleeding on probing and 34.9% had visible plaque. Class III malocclusion affected approximately 30% of participants in both countries. Tooth brushing frequency showed a significant difference between the two groups ( = 0.005). Most participants (76% in Pakistan, 62% in Saudi Arabia) were classified as high caries risk. Deep pits and fissures (69.4%) and frequent snacking (63.8%) were the main risk factors in Pakistan, while frequent snacking (71.6%) and heavy plaque (60.4%) were prevalent in Saudi Arabia. Saudi participants had a significantly higher likelihood of being in the high-risk group for caries (OR = 1.86, 95% CI [0.95-3.65], = 0.04).
The disabled individuals in both countries face significant oral health challenges, with high caries risk and poor oral hygiene practices. Targeted preventive measures and improved dental care access are essential to addressing these disparities.
由于功能受限，残疾个体在管理口腔疾病（包括龋齿和牙周疾病）方面往往面临更大挑战。本研究旨在：（1）评估巴基斯坦和沙特阿拉伯残疾个体的口腔健康状况；（2）评估他们的口腔卫生知识和行为；（3）使用基于风险评估的龋病管理（CAMBRA）方案确定他们的龋齿风险。
在2023年9月至2024年4月期间，对189名13岁及以上的参与者进行了一项横断面研究，这些参与者包括来自巴基斯坦和沙特阿拉伯的听力、视力或智力残疾的年轻人和成年人。参与者从巴基斯坦特殊教育研究所和沙特阿拉伯沙特康复医学研究所招募。口腔内检查和咬合翼片X线片评估口腔健康状况，包括龋失补牙（DMFT）指数、牙龈指数、可见菌斑和磨牙排列。一份自填式问卷收集社会人口统计学数据，并评估口腔卫生知识和行为。使用CAMBRA工具分析龋齿风险。数据采用描述性统计、卡方检验和二元逻辑回归进行分析。
平均DMFT评分为6.30（标准差 = 1.83），巴基斯坦和沙特阿拉伯之间存在统计学显著差异（P = 0.007）。47%的参与者牙龈健康状况为一般至较差，43.4%的参与者探诊时出血，34.9%的参与者有可见菌斑。两国约30%的参与者存在III类错牙合。两组之间刷牙频率存在显著差异（P = 0.005）。大多数参与者（巴基斯坦为76%，沙特阿拉伯为62%）被归类为高龋齿风险。在巴基斯坦，深窝沟（69.4%）和频繁吃零食（63.8%）是主要风险因素，而在沙特阿拉伯，频繁吃零食（71.6%）和大量菌斑（60.4%）更为普遍。沙特参与者患龋齿高风险组的可能性显著更高（比值比 = 1.86，95%置信区间[0.95 - 3.65]，P = 0.04）。
两国的残疾个体都面临重大的口腔健康挑战，龋齿风险高且口腔卫生习惯差。针对性的预防措施和改善牙科护理可及性对于解决这些差异至关重要。
